Art lovers are urged to be quick to catch the fourth instalment of the Castlemaine Art Museum’s Orbit series featuring the work of Glenlyon-based ceramic artist Minaal Lawn.
Lawn creates intimate, domestic-scale ceramic objects that celebrate the reconciliation of her Indian heritage with her Australian upbringing.
Her work examines the transformation from an inherited culture, revisiting childhood stories and object symbolism.
Lawn said the exhibition featured 173 pieces of new work that built and extended on the themes of her previous work.
“There are knots, vessels and giant knuckle stacks in a varied colour palette including some new colours created especially for this exhibition,” she said.
In fact, Lawn also personally constructed the plinths and wall hanging boards to display the work.
“It was great to have ownership of every aspect of the exhibition and present it in a way that best utilises the elongated space within the Benefactor’s Gallery and creates an immersive experience,” she said.
The artist has a background in fashion and studied at the School of Clay and Art in Brunswick.
“The completion of my studies coincided with our move to Glenlyon and with my own dedicated studio space I have found more time to focus on my art,” she said.
“Like all artists I dabble in a few genres but clay is my first love.”
Lawn said the knots’ forms were linked with a story of superstition her Dad shared with her as a child.
“We were walking and came across a piece of knotted fabric on the footpath. He urged me not to step over it. It is deemed bad luck in India to step over a piece of discarded fabric, it’s thought to have bad energy,” she said.
Lawn said the vessels were created by playing and experimenting with ideas and paid homage to domestic life and abundance.
The knuckle stacks are a nod to her past.
“They are getting bigger and bigger. They won’t fit in my kiln soon! These can be presented in stacks or different arrangements and are a nod to my background in fashion,” she said.
The exhibition closes this Sunday May 30 so be sure to check it out. CAM is open Thursday-Sunday from 12pm to 4pm.
The Orbit series celebrates artists who live and work in central Victoria and is proudly supported through the state government’s Creative Victoria’s Strategic Investment Fund.
